Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the performances of canine units used in avalanche through the use of molecular targets

We developed a quantitative analytical method for the analysis of VOCs from sweat. We designed an innovative methodology to simulate the processes of diffusion of molecular targets from the body within the snowpack. To simulate the conditions of the avalanche snow, we prepared an artificial avalanche site where to perform the test. Snow properties such as temperature, density and type of grains were monitored during all the experiments to guarantee the same environmental conditions for all the tests. The research was conducted in close collaboration with the Soccorso Alpino della Guardia di Finanza (SAGF) di Predazzo, with the Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e Protezione Ambientale del Veneto (ARPAV) and the Laboratorio di Etologia e Benessere Animale (LEBA) at Department of Veterinary Medicine of Perugia University.